Jack Roman was perfectly happy living the life of a high-powered and charismatic philistine. He had time, money, women and a penchant for the fast life. Until he met his match in Samantha Wyatt and his obsession with her would take him to hell and back…

Wes Elliott’s been dreaming of the muse he let go of as a young man—the woman he never forgot throughout his travels and the successes he’d left her to find. He always thought he’d see Sammy again—he just never expected her to be fighting for her life when he did…

Samantha Wyatt is being challenged by her past, tested by her decisions, and hunted by her nemesis. As her dangerous present and enigmatic past collides, Samantha conducts the riskiest operation of her life, and the men who love her will be forced to decide: Do they trust her enough to let her protect them? And do they love her enough to let her go?

Review

This was an emotional and action-packed sequel to Complicated Creatures: Part I (my review) which I thoroughly enjoyed. Its'w ritten in the same engaging style - detailed and well-researched with a lot of depth of feeling. We see even more character development and plot twists kept me on the edge and turning the pages impatiently.

While this books continues Sam and Jack's many additional characters also take center stage. Wes tries to find his way back to Sam and even though he is a good guy by all means and I was not happy about the love triangle that he fromed with Sam and Jack. There was a particular episode in the story which some might consider cheating, thought I personally don't thing so, yet it made me feel a bit uneasy and really bad for Jack.

Sam's personal and professional life goes compeltely off in this installment. Everything around her is in motion and changing but this also leads her to re-examine a lot of her personal issues. For the first time we see this warrior-like woman who appears so strong and in total control, in a state of inner turmoil and completely lost.

Things get even more difficult for Jack and I felt bad for him. His love for Sam is so strong, all-encompassing, yet it scares and confuses him. He is led by the best of intentions but he also makes some costly mistakes that affect everyone around him.

The story is told in multiple POVs and it's working really well, giving the readers different perspectives. This creates a lush background to all that is happening with the characters, main and supporting.

The book ends with a kind of cliffhanger, not the worst possible, yet there are lot of things left to be cleared in the final installment in the series. Things could go either way for all the characters and there are still secrets from Sam's past to be revealed.

It's a recommended read for anyine who have read and enjoyed the first book. If you like romantic suspense with strong and intriguing characters and a lot of military action, you should give this series a try. There is also a novella told from Rush's POV coming in between books 1 and 2 and you can get it for 0.99 on Amazon and for FREE if you sign-up for Ms Alexi Lawless newsletter.

Three words, to call on all a man’s strength, all his courage, all his love, and all his ability to hope and dream…and trust.

Three words, to wake up every fear a man has ever had.

“I’m pregnant, Luc.”

Now how could a man be perfect enough for that?

Author’s note: This book occurs in the early days of the marriage of Luc and Summer, the couple in THE CHOCOLATE HEART. I don't recommend reading it without having read THE CHOCOLATE HEART.

*** *** ***

Why am I waiting for this? - I love the Amour et Chocolat series by Laura Florand and The Choclate Heart is one of my favourite stories. This is continuation of Summer and Luc's story as they start a family and I'm excited to see them again. This series of contemporary romance stories involving sexy, brooding French chocolatiers, is perfect for the fans of emotional love stories deftly told in a truly beautiful writing style.

Working in low-level IT support for a company that’s the toast of the tech world, Sigmund Sussman finds himself content, if not particularly inspired. As compensation for telling people to restart their computer a few times a day, Sigmund earns enough disposable income to gorge on comics and has plenty of free time to devote to his gaming group.

Then in walks the new guy with the unpronounceable last name who immediately becomes IT’s most popular team member. Lain Laufeyjarson is charming and good-looking, with a story for any occasion; shy, awkward Sigmund is none of those things, which is why he finds it odd when Lain flirts with him. But Lain seems cool, even if he’s a little different—though Sigmund never suspects just how different he could be. After all, who would expect a Norse god to be doing server reboots?

As Sigmund gets to know his mysterious new boyfriend, fate—in the form of an ancient force known as the Wyrd—begins to reveal the threads that weave their lives together. Sigmund doesn’t have the first clue where this adventure will take him, but as Lain says, only fools mess with the Wyrd. Why? Because the Wyrd messes back.

Review

This is a rather unusual read for me, a queer urban fantasy, which I picked up after a recommendation from a friend.

I liked a lot of things in the story and enjoyed reading most of it but at some point I felt lost in the the complexity of the Norse mythology which was presented in overwhelming detail. I had to google far too many things in order to make sense of the story and this took away from my overall enjoyment of the book.

The strongest element in the story for me was the way the author played with/subverted traditional sexual roles and romantic standards. Sigmund was an adorable, so-not-typical romantic lead - geeky, neither ubermanly, nor gay, just ordinary, yet capable of loving without a question. His two best friends were interesting and unusual female characters, together with his father they made strong supporting characters who contributed a lot to the main story.

The other main character, Lain/Loki was rather complicated and difficult to understand and evaluate. His was interesting and his episodes were both amusing and confusing. Sigmund and Lain's love story was very sweet - real, intimate, there was no pretence, despite how non-traditional it seemed.

The writing was strong and convincing, creating an intriguing and complex world building. Besides the strong romantic element the story was really action-packed, especially the second half of it. I'm not a gamer myself, but I found the gamer perspective and jargon which permeated some of the story telling well done and interesting.

Still, I felt there were to many unresolved issued by the end. It was difficult to appreciate the subversion of traditional mythology in the story when I'm not sufficiently familiar with the original myths. It's a HFN ending and I hope that the sequel which is coming next year it will clarify some of the things that baffled me here.

Overall, it's a curious, unusual story, well told, which will be better appreciated by people who are more familiar with Norse mythology than me.

When FBI special agent Joss Dubois discovers that her best friend’s life is being threatened, she volunteers to be the Vegas dancer's official protection. Determined to solve the case before she loses one of the only people she loves, Joss becomes caught up in terrorism, attempted murder, and life behind-the-scenes of the seedy nightlife of Sin City.

Joss is forced to partner with the security manager at the Desert Casino, former Intel Marine, Ethan Gallagher. Despite her resistance to his charm, and her stubborn insistence on controlling the investigation, Ethan finds himself drawn to the smart, beautiful, tempting FBI agent. But Joss isn’t so eager to risk heartbreak after the tragedies of her past and her job has become the only thing she can count on.

When the threats against the people they’re protecting turn deadly, Ethan and Joss have to find a way to trust each other to track the hunter who lies in wait for the Desert’s dancers. But trust is a rare and fragile thing to Joss, and Ethan may not be up to the task despite the mutual attraction they can't deny or fight.

Will their new partnership blow up, or can it survive to take down the predator before it’s too late?

Mini Review

It's a debut novel by Silvia Ami and I was provided a copy in exchange of an honest review. I rather enjoyed this complex romantic suspense story.

The romance was strong and slow burning and the chemistry between Ethan and Joss was great. The mystery element was also well done and kept me guessing till the very end.

I appreciate the strong and professional heroine and the hero who respected her professionalism and tough exterior which hid a tender heart. There was no unnecessary drama and angst in their relationship though there was a lot of going back and forth between them before they came together as a team not just professionally but also as a couple. The chemistry and the sexual tension between Ethan and Joss was just sizzling and i couldn't wait for them to get together.

I had some issues with flow of the story, it read as choppy and not very smooth at times, but still I liked it a lot. I couldn't really warm up to Dom and Iris. They were good friends to Joss and Ethan and Iris was central to the suspense plot, yet I didn't feel invested in their story.

Overall, it was a fast-paced romantic suspense with very real and likeable characters. It was easy for me to relate to them and I rooted for their HEA from the start. I loved the refreshing heroine, a strong professional woman who knew who she was and what she wanted and the sensible, sexy hero who was protective and caring without coming off as oppressive.

Shannon MacLeod has always gone for the wrong type of man. After she drifted from one toxic relationship to the next, her last boyfriend gave her a wakeup call in the worst possible way. With her world shattered, she’s sworn off men—especially those of the bad-boy variety.

Cole Walker is exactly the sort that Shannon wants to avoid—gorgeous, tattooed, charming, and cocky. But his rough exterior hides a good man who’s ready to find “the one.” He’s determined to pull Shannon from her self-imposed solitude and win her heart.

As Shannon opens up in the face of Cole’s steady devotion, the passion between them ignites to blazing levels. But when Shannon’s past comes back to haunt her, her fears may destroy the trust Cole has built between them—and tear them apart for good…

Review

This is
book 5 in On Dublin Street series. I’ve read all the books, except book 2, and
I’d recommend that you read them in order, though they can be appreciated as
standalones as well.

I was rather disappointed with Hannah and Marco's story in the Before Jamaica lane this made anxious about Cole’s story. I liked it better but still it’s not one
of my favourites in the series.

This was a
very sweet, NA romance between a supposedly bad boy hero and a heroine who has
sworn off of dangerous men.

Cole, whom
we met first as a kid in the beginning of the series has grown up to be a fine young
man. He is a famous tattoo artist, rough looking, covered in tattooes himself,
yet his appearance is totally misleading. He hides a heart of gold and he was
the perfect gentleman with everybody. I felt his goodness a bit overdone, too
perfect made him bland and far too unrealistic. Still, he was great with his
friends and family, and that made him pretty adorable and irresistible.

My main
issue in the story was Shannon. She was just
shallow and judgemental, quick to dismiss Cole as someone unworthy of her
time/attention just because of his looks. Even when they overcame their initial
misunderstanding, she kept making wrong decisions and some stupid choices
which hurt the people who loved her. She did try
to make up for her wrongdoings, yet I wasn’t conviced she deserved Cole.

We see a
lot of the previous couples, all with children now. Unlike in the previous novel, here their presence was not overwhelming, but warm and nice. There was the usual craziness surrounding them, together with some touching
family moments.

Overall, it was a
nice installment in the series, but there was too much artificial drama and angst. All the happy times and the hot chemistry between Cole and Shannon led to just a 3.5 star rating
for me.

We meet Shannon’s brother, Logan, in this story and he will be the hero
in the next instalment of the series. The blurb for his story is really
intriguing and I can’t wait to read it next year.

No matter how many times he’s left her in the past, Sybil Chalmers can’t ignore
her feelings for the one man who stole her heart years ago. For countless
nights, she has waited for him—for his kiss, his touch—and has longed for him
to emerge from the shadows of his past. Only when she is in his arms does Sybil
really feel alive…and finally, after all these years, that time is now.

A DEADLY DESIRE

He’s a man raised in a world of strict rules and unbreakable traditions and
he’s always yearned to break free. But when a family tragedy lures him back
home, he finds his one true passion has been there all along. With Sybil, he
can explore his greatest potential—and allow her to discover a whole new level
of ecstasy. But will a long-buried secret threaten to tear them apart? The only
thing he knows for sure is that he will do anything to keep Sybil in his
life…and keep her coming back for more.

*** *** ***

This is the final installment of an intense and
intriguing romantic suspense series. I recently finished book 2 and it left far
too many unresolved issues for me to wait patiently for book 3. March 2015
seems so far away. It’s captivating series, a bit darker than I usually read
but I can’t wait for that happy end coming with retribution for terrible
crimes.

Release Date: 23 Oct 2014

WHEN I PUT THE key he had given me in the door to his apartment it felt like the end of a long journey. Really it was only a little over twelve hours and I had stopped to nap once along the way, but it still felt like too long since I had seen his face or been able to touch all that toned and tattooed skin. Jimbo greeted me at the door when I pushed it open. His tongue lolled out of his mouth and he jumped up and put his paws on my legs. He was going to be huge when he finally grew into his fuzzy body and I was overwhelmed at how happy I was to see him. I dropped to my knees and rubbed my face in his neck as he licked me all over my face. I was obviously missed and I had to say it was just one more reason I knew I was finally where I was supposed to be. It was late, so the apartment was dark.

I checked the dog’s food and water, trying to be quiet in case Rowdy was already asleep. I was winding my way toward his bedroom when a haphazardly discarded sketch pad lying on the couch caught my eye in the dim light. I paused for a minute to pick it up and felt my heart stop and then start to race as I flipped through the first few pages. There were a couple of drawings that were obviously for clients, tattoos that hadn’t made it from paper to skin yet, but most of the pristine white pages were covered with images wearing my face. There was mermaid me, and naughty- sailor- girl me. There was sassy Indian girl me with long Pocahontas braids and there was sexy devil me standing next to angelic me. There were dozens of them all in different shapes and sizes, but every single image was undoubtedly modeled after my distinct look. I wasn’t sure if he had drawn them all over this last week while I had been gone or over the months we had been chasing each other in circles.

Either way it made my heart swell and the full certainty that I was it for him settle deep inside my bones. I set the pad down and tiptoed through the hall. Jimbo took one look at where I was going and huffed out a disgusted- sounding snort. The poor guy had learned early on that he wanted no part of what happened between his humans when they were together in the bedroom. The light was off and Rowdy was sprawled on his stomach across the covers. His blond hair was sticking up every- where and he hand one arm bent up under his head. The only thing that could have made the sight better would have been if he hadn’t bothered with the black boxers before crashing out.

Even with them obscuring the view, I couldn’t complain. I let out a breathless sigh and crept closer so that I could lean over and touch my lips to that anchor on the side of his neck. I felt his pulse leap and tasted the salt on his skin as he murmured sleepily and rolled over onto his back. Those infinitely blue eyes glowed at me in the dark as a grin pulled up the corner of his mouth.

“Hey.”

About ROWDY:The New York Times and USA Today bestselling Marked Men series continues with this sizzling, sexy story of love, heartbreak, fate, and second chances.
After the only girl he ever loved told him that he would never be enough, Rowdy St. James knocked the Texas dust off his boots and set out to live up to his nickname. A good ol’ boy looking for good times and good friends, Rowdy refuses to take anything too seriously, especially when it comes to the opposite sex. Burned by love once, he isn’t going to let himself trust a woman again. But that’s before his new co-worker arrives, a ghost from the past who’s suddenly making him question every lesson he ever learned.
Salem Cruz grew up in house with too many rules and too little fun—a world of unhappiness she couldn’t wait to forget. But one nice thing from childhood has stayed with her; the memory of the sweet, blue-eyed boy next door who’d been head over heels in love with her little sister.
Now, fate and an old friend have brought her and Rowdy together, and Salem is determined to show him that once upon a time he picked the wrong sister. A mission that is working perfectly—until the one person that ties them together appears, threatening to tear them apart for good.

About the author:
Jay Crownover is the New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of the Marked Men series. She will also be introducing the dark and sexy world of The Point in a new series this summer starting with ROWDY. Like her characters, she is a big fan of tattoos. She loves music and wishes she could be a rock star, but since she has no aptitude for singing or instrument playing, she'll settle for writing stories with interesting characters that make the reader feel something. She lives in Colorado with her three dogs.

I started
this new feature on my blog with advise on books and blogging with my post on
How to Get Free Books last week.

Today I
want to tell you more about the services of NetGalley and Edelweiss as a way to
get free books in exchange of reviewing them online.

I have been
using NetGalley for over a year now and I’m very happy with it. It’s very easy
to use. Basically you register there and request the books you want to read. I
after you’ve read them you have to provide feedback and it’s desirable to
publish your review on your site/blog, Goodreads or other platforms for readers
and on booksellers sites (Amazon, B&N, ect.).

Now, the
tricky part is the approval of your requests. Initially, I was often declined,
since my blog was new, I didn’t have many reviews posted there or elsewhere. As
a good way to start, I’d suggest that you check out the Read Now section which
lists books free for download. It’s important to provide feedback on the books
received regularly, even if you didn’t like the book. I, personally, try to
maintain my request/review ratio around 60%, though it’s better to be keep it
higher than that.

People
often go overboard with requests because initially they don’t get many approvals
and then suddenly they get far too many review copies to be able to go through them.

The
publishers providing copies of their titles for review have different criteria for approving reviewers. Some don’t approve request outside US at
all, the UK
publishers also provide titles only to UK-based bloggers.

Edelweiss
offers the same service but I have more difficulties with it. As an
international reader based in Bulgaria,
I can't really use the search option. The only way for me to see the titles
available for review is through the email they sent me every week.

This site works in a slightly different way than NetGalley. You have to register with the site and provide some general information about you/your blog
but when you request a specific book, you also write a short note explaining
why you want this particular title. I get the feeling that Edelweiss offers more YA titles, while NetGalley gets more adult and romance titles but this is pure speculation on my part based on personal observations.

So far, Edelweiss is not working very well for me and I get more
rejections than approvals there and very often I don’t get any response. Still, I check regularly the title offered for review and place my requests when I see something that I like.

Here is some useful tips for you on how to request ARCs:

-Start with Read now books (there such sections both on Netgalley and on Edelweiss)

-Don’t be shy when requesting, you never know when you will be approved, at the same time

-Go only for books you really want to read, otherwise you will loose the desire to review them

-Provide honest feedback regularly

-Don’t depsair if you get declined often.

-Sing up for the site’s newsletter, it’s a great way to learn for a limited-time only read now books

Lately, I’ve noticed that some of the companies organizing book tours and promotional events also offer copies of books for review.

Note: I will be writing a seprate post on PR companies prganising book tours, blitzes, etc. soon (I hope)

Now, if you
are a blogger, it’s good to have a section on the blog with your Review requirements/criteria.
In this way authors can send you copies of their books for review. I’m swamped
with books to review at the moment and I recently went back to work fulltime,
so I’m not accepting review requests. I did make an exception recently, since
the blurb of the proposed book intrigued me and it ended being a wonderful
surprise (Complicated Creatures by Alexi Lawless).

That's pretty much all I have gained as personal experience in requesting and reviewing ARCs. Feel free to ask any questions you might have and I'll try to answer them to the best of my abilities and knowledge. Your own thoughts and tips on requesting and reviewing ARCs are most welcome!

As the brains behind wedding site TyingTheKnot.com, Callie sees it all: from the ring to the dress, the smiles . . . to the tears. It's that last part that keeps her single and not looking. Getting left at the altar will do that to a girl. But when Callie returns to her old hometown, she finds that her sweet high school crush is sexier than ever. And he makes it hard to remember why she's sworn off love . . .

Tanner is a deep-sea diver with a wild, adrenaline-junkie past—and now his teenage son is back in his life. How can Tanner be a role model when he's still paying for his own mistakes? It's hard enough that gorgeous Callie has appeared in town like a beautiful dream, challenging his best-laid plans to keep his heart on lockdown. Though there's something about being around her again that makes him feel like he can be the man she—and his son—deserve. Little Lucky Harbor holds their past; can it hold a beautiful new future?

Mini Review

This is the final book in the Lucky Harbor series and it offered a cute romance thought it didn't end up as one of my favourites in the series.

I liked the hero and heroine (Tanner and Callie) a lot both when the were together and separately as characters. I wanted to see more of them but was often distracted by Lucille's story. The old Lucky Harbor's busybody has been a great supporting character through out this series but she took too much center stage here. We already know what to expect of her and reading about her antics over and over again felt repetitive.

Callie was cute, a bit nerdy and insecure which her background made perfectly understandable and acceptable, yet she often acted childish and immature. She seemed like the teenager who had a crush on Tanner and not like an independent young woman falling for a grown up man.

Tanner was an interesting character and I really wanted to see more of him. I have a soft spot for single dads in fiction who are struggling with the task of bringing up a child. I very appreciated Tanner's efforts to be a good dad to his teenager son and I wish their issues were presented with more depth and development.

Troy, Tanner's son was a wonderful brooding teenager and I felt he fitted very well into the story and was both endearing and realistic.

As usual, we get glimpses of characters from the previous books in the series and as always, it gave me a nice, heart warming feeling.

The story ends with the expected HEA for Callie and Tanner and unlike most of the other books which end with the proposal, here we get to see a wedding - a crazy, sweet beach weeding and it was the perfect end to this much loved series.

You know that guy I featured on my blog a few months ago? The really, really hot Irish rugby player who plays the position of ‘hooker’ in the RLI (Rugby League International)? The one with the anger management issues, the body of a gladiator and the face of a movie star? The one with the questionable fashion choices leading me to ask whether he was the lovechild of a leprechaun and a hobbit? Ronan Fitzpatrick? Yeah, that guy.

Well, I have a confession to make…

THE HERMIT

Annie Catrel, social media expert extraordinaire at Davidson & Croft Media and clandestine celebrity blogger, can make anyone shine in the court of public opinion. She is the Socialmedialite, anonymous creator of New York’s Finest and the internet’s darling. Virtual reality is Annie’s forte, but actual reality? Not so much.

THE HOOKER

Ronan Fitzpatrick, aka the best hooker the world of rugby has seen in decades, despises the media—social or otherwise. The press has spun a web of lies depicting him as rugby’s wild and reckless bad boy. Suspended from his team, Ronan has come to Manhattan to escape the drama, lay low, fly under the radar. Only, Ronan isn’t easy to overlook, and he can’t escape the notice of the Socialmedialite…

THE PLAN

When Ronan is sent to Davidson & Croft Media to reshape his public image, he never expects to cross paths with shy but beautiful Annie, nor does he expect his fierce attraction to her. He couldn’t be happier when her boss suggests pairing them together.

What lengths will Annie take to keep her virtual identity concealed? And what happens when the hooker discovers who the hermit really is?

The Hooker and the Hermit is a collaboration between authors L.H. Cosway and Penny Reid, is a full length 100k word novel, and is a standalone.

*** *** ***

Two of my favourite authors are collaborating on a contemporary romance involving a rugby player and a celebrity blogger, told from dual POV. I expect a lot of nerdy fun and sexy times. What's not to like about that?

Falling never felt so good . . . Seven best-selling stories of love, heartbreak, and redemption.

***These full-length novels are either stand-alones or the first in a series.***

✦ ✦✦ ✦✦ ✦✦ ✦

SPIN MY LOVE by Chantal Fernando, NYT & USA Today Bestselling AuthorFacebook | Goodreads | Website World renowned DJ Tane Miller returns to his hometown after leaving when he was eighteen and never looking back. When he runs into his beloved childhood friend Giselle, his life takes a turn he could never have anticipated.

DEAREST CLEMENTINE by Lex MartinFacebook | Goodreads | Website Clementine Avery doesn't date. Not after her ex cheated and a professor stalked her. But when she accidentally signs up for a romance writing class, she has a hard time resisting hot RA Gavin Murphy, who volunteers to help her find a little "inspiration."

DEEP BLUE by Jules BarnardFacebook | Goodreads | Website Recent college grad Cali Morgan thinks she has her life all figured out, until she returns to Lake Tahoe and runs into an old crush she barely recognizes. A serious accident pushes Jaeger’s life in a new direction, but he’s hotter than ever, his presence rocking the foundation Cali staked her future on.

DAZZLED by Jane Harvey-BerrickFacebook | Goodreads | Website Young London actor Miles Stephens gets a chance to star in a big-time Hollywood movie, but when the dream of a lifetime doesn’t match reality he turns to Clare, lifelong friend and girl next door. Clare knows two important facts: when you break chocolate, the calories fall out; and that she’s totally in love with clueless Miles.

HE FOUND ME by Whitney BarbettiFacebook | Goodreads | Website Andra disappeared from an abusive environment when she was seventeen, choosing to build a new life, full of secrets. But when she met Julian, everything changed. And the moment she let her guard down, a threat from her past caught up to her.

THE RIGHT KIND OF WRONG by Jade EbyFacebook | Goodreads | Website Kara Pierce and Vince Gage have a tumultuous past. As in - he almost ruined Kara's life. When they're forced to work together on a final college project, Kara must learn how to do the hardest thing she's ever done: forgive.

THE YEAR WE FELL DOWN by Sarina BowenFacebook | Goodreads | Website Corey Callahan thought she'd start college playing varsity ice hockey. But she'll start it in a wheelchair instead. The only perk? Her too-delicious-to-be-real neighbor, Adam Hartley. They're just friends, until one crazy night when things fall apart. Or fall together. All Corey knows is that she's falling. Hard.

Grab your copy of this limited-time anthology featuring a New York Times and USA Today bestseller, along with some of the hottest debuts of 2014 for ONLY 99 cents!

A drummer for the hottest rock band on the planet, David has a single, powerful weakness: Thea, the band's publicist and the woman who steals his breath away with her every move.

Only problem is, Thea doesn't date clients--or musicians. Emotionally scarred by a cheating ex, she's not about to risk her heart with a man who has groupies buzzing around him like flies. Even if his sexy smile ties her up in knots.

What she doesn't know is that David is a one-woman man...and he's madly in love with her. David's determined to prove he's worth the risk, and willing to court her, step by exquisite step. Thea's about to discover just how long and hard this handsome drummer can play.

Mini Review

It’s a short novella about David, the drummer for School Choir and their PR manager and Molly’s sister, Thea. I can say that I liked the little we saw of David and Thea in book 1 and I enjoyed their romance more than Fox and Molly’s. Despite its short length it was a well-rounded story with likable characters.

David lived to his nickname the Gentleman of Rock and his courting of Thea was both cute and sexy. I especially liked how his persistent he was without coming off as intimidating and obsessive. The memo exchange served as a fun game of seduction and was a pleasant surprise.

David was an all-around good guy – with his bandmates, with his family, with Thea. He was even a bit shy, avoiding the spotlight and that made him even more attractive than your typical bad boy rocker.

Thea had legitimate reasons to be hesitant to start a relationship with David – he is her client and a famous musician. Her resistance felt genuine and not contrived, yet it seemed too much towards the end. I loved the chemistry, their sexy times were really hot.

There was a slow natural progression of their relationship and it is presented at the background of their family and professional lives.

Intense, passionate,. She had some issues and there was some drama at the end related to David but they all served to add complexity their characters and to present their relationship as it grows and ultimates becomes the love of their lives for both of them.

A sweet, sexy story which I can recommend to fans of rockstar romances,. We see more of Molly and Fox, as well as bits and pieces of Noah and Abe and I’m really looking forward to their stories. Noah’s mystery is most intriguing.

Recently a friend of mine from university reached out to me on GR and she thanked me for my reviews which she found very helpful for someone like her who is new to GR and doesn't have much time to search for new titles. I was overwhelmed and I remember my first steps in actively reviewing books 2 years ago - how I struggled with GR initially, what it took me to understand the workings of NetGalley, Edelweiss, other book blogs. As usually, I was acting stubborn and didn't ask for help and tried to figure it all out by myself.

For an international reader like me, it is even more difficult to find your place in the book blogging/reading (online) world. So, to cut a long story short, I decided that I could share some of my insights with the hope that could be helpful for some new readers out there. I know there are a lot of resources already available but still, I will add my two cents to this topic. I will try to make it a series of short article/posts with advice directed mostly to new readers/reviewers. Feel free to add your comments and suggestions any time.

My first post will focus on the ways we can get free book (either just to read, or to read and review).

How to Get Free Books

Most of us are hard pressed for money and as a compulsive reader my budget for books regularly goes overboard. So, I'm always on the lookout for great deals and sources of free books.

- Many of the Goodreads groups have topics for books sales and freebies. Find the groups which reflect your reading interests and then search for the right topic and subscribe to it. This source works bets for me.

- There is a number of sites offering daily newesletters with book sales and freebies. I'd suggest that you try out different newsletter to see which one works bets for you. Many deals repeat along the site but there are also some appearing on one place only. I have cut down the newsletters I receive to just two, since I don't really have the time to go through too many daily emails - SweetFeedBooksandBookBub

- Check the bestsellers list (free books) on Amazon - I don't do this very regularly, but you can find some awesome jems there sometimes.

- Another way to get free books even before their official release is provided by sites like NetGalley and Edelweiss - where you can request books for review. You need to provide feedback on the books you've read and there is always a chance that your request may be denied. I'll be introducing this services in more detail in my next post

- You can also get books in exchange of review in several groups on Goodreads. This is a great way to read new books for free if you are willing to try new authors, especially ones that publish their works independantly (indies) - Making Connections, New Adult Book Club

- Most author publsih some free stuff on their sites or send it in their newsletters. I strongly recommend following your favourite authros on your preferred social meadi. My expreience with newsletters so far has been only positive. Penny Reid sends great newsletters and Nalini Singh offers a wealth of free short stories both ion her site and via newsletter.

- There are sites like Wattpad and SwoonReads - they offer a platform for aspiring and establih authros to share some of their works with readers for free.

These are the ways I use to get (free) books to read and review. If you other suggestion, feel free and welcomes to share them.

“Anne Calhoun’s romances define the erotic”* and now the national bestselling author of Uncommon Passion serves up a delicious new novella of savory food and hungry men—and one woman’s challenge to get creative with each…

Sarah McCall, food truck co-owner and recent Manhattan transplant, savors each moment of her new job—whether it’s refining the truck's menu, learning the city, or spending afternoons in bed with the hot paramedic who's fast becoming her favorite customer.

Mini Review

This is my
second book by Anne Calhoun and I very much enjoy her writing style – brisk,
laconic.

This was a
nice novella, simple, yet emotional. It didn’t grab me initially since I prefer
a bit more detailed and colourful style, yet the story drew me. Ms Calhoun has
created an emotionally intense story of finding the right person with whom to
enjoy life at a slower pace.

It’s very
topical issue, living in a hurry, being always stressed, focusing on the
present to avoid the pain of the past and never thinking about the future.

Both main
characters were rather interesting, carefully drawn and their personality
really did shine through. Sarah was wonderful. Her love of food and cooking,
her total emersion in everything were very vivid and emotional. I particularly
enjoyed her explorations of New York,
which went parallel with her return to life and her growing attachment to Tim.

Tim was
more difficult to read. He was closed off, not really living his life, just
focusing on his job. In a way he was also on a journey back to life, though his
path was more winding, and he did take some detours along the way.

The whole
set of food and eating analogies added a very unique flavour to the whole story
and made a very delicious reading. I totally subscribe to the idea of the
conscious effort it takes to nurture a relationship, to take time to enjoy the
good things in life – good food, good company, good love.

The writing
is subdued, yet sensual. There are no grand promises or gestures and focus is
more on the beauty of simple things. It’s a gentle story which is romantic in
its simplicity and honesty. It’d recommend it to all fans of romance, looking
for a quick, sensual modern-day story of love and life.

A summer road trip changes everything in this unforgettable new tale from acclaimed author Katie McGarry

For new high school graduate Echo Emerson, a summer road trip out west with her boyfriend means getting away and forgetting what makes her so... different. It means seeing cool sights while selling her art at galleries along the way. And most of all, it means almost three months alone with Noah Hutchins, the hot, smart, soul-battered guy who’s never judged her. Echo and Noah share everything — except the one thing Echo’s just not ready for.

But when the source of Echo’s constant nightmares comes back into her life, she has to make some tough decisions about what she really wants — even as foster kid Noah’s search for his last remaining relatives forces them both to confront some serious truths about life, love, and themselves.

Now, with one week left before college orientation, jobs and real life, Echo must decide if Noah's more than the bad-boy fling everyone warned her he'd be. And the last leg of an amazing road trip will turn... seriously epic.

*** *** ***

Why am I waiting for
this? – I’m a big fan of this series of realistic YA stories. This is a sequel
to the first book, Pushing the Limits, and I’m excited to see more of Noah and
Echo.

Prosperity, 1863: a lawless skytown where varlets, chancers, and ne’er-do-wells risk everything to chase a fortune in the clouds, and where a Gaslight guttersnipe named Piccadilly is about to cheat the wrong man. This mistake will endanger his life . . . and his heart.

Thrill! As our hero battles dreadful kraken above Prosperity. Gasp! As the miracles of clockwork engineering allow a dead man to wreak his vengeance upon the living. Marvel! At the aerial escapades of the aethership, Shadowless.

Beware! The licentious and unchristian example set by the opium-addled navigatress, Miss Grey. Disapprove Strongly! Of the utter moral iniquity of the dastardly crime prince, Milord. Swoon! At the dashing skycaptain, Byron Kae. Swoon Again! At the tormented clergyman, Ruben Crowe.

This volume (available in print, and for the first time on mechanical book-reading devices) contains the complete original text of Piccadilly’s memoirs as first serialised in All the Year Round. Some passages may prove unsettling to unmarried gentlemen of a sensitive disposition.

Review

It is a unique book, like nothing I have read before and I loved so much that it's really difficult for me to write a proper review. I'll start by trying to define its genre/style - for me it's a steampunk, adventure, m/m romance, coming of age, fantasy love story. Mr Hall spins a complex, whimsical, profound and most of all beautiful tale of the life and sorrows and loves of one Piccadilly.

This is my first book by this author and I was drawn to it by the steampunk in the blurb and the krakens (I recently read Meljean Brooks’ The Kraken King and I absolutely loved it). The storie don't have much in common, though. Even the krakens are different, yet in the end I loved Prosperity very much as well.

I wasn’t sure what to expect initially and at the beginning it took me some time to get used to the writing style and language used. I was drawn into the story right from the start, a sort of memoirs of the hero, told by him in a curious mixture of street slang, made-up words and high-brow literary style.

The message of the strength of love coming in all shapes and forms was a strong one throughout all the misfortunes and the rare happy times for Piccadilly. There is a lot of humour along with the philosophical messages. The characters are all unique and you get invested in them despite or rather, because of their flaws and failings. They all seem the have hidden inside them hearts of gold, even the ruthless Milord.

It was fantastical, beautifully written journey that I couldn't put down till the very end. I'm more than happy that there will be more stories about this characters in a series of novellas set in this semi-mythical, semi-realistic universe of rainbows, aethermancy and sky cities.

It's a recommended read for anyone who is looking for something different than traditional romance. Now, I'm going back to read Mr. Hall contemporary M/M romance, Glitterland, which my GR friends have rated very highly.

There a campaign going on this October - QueerRomanceMonth - where authors and fans share their thoughts on the queer romance. I strongly recommend checking it out if you are a fan or just curious about this topic.

I’m weary of the NA genre as a whole but this was nice exception. It’s a very touching and emotional without being melodramatic. It deals with issues of finding yourself in the face of disability. The writing is also quite good and compelling thus drawing the reader right into the story and the fate of the characters. I can recommend it to all fans of NA romance and lovers of good stories with a strong (albeit, shy and insecure) heroine and a slightly confused but very lovable hero.

This is a
one-of-a-kind book for me. I had great difficult writing a proper review of it.
In a short and very inadequate description, it’s a surreal steampunk adventure
story of love coming in all shapes and forms. The writing is quite unique and
I’d say a bit challenging but the voice of the hero, Piccadilly is so
compelling that it slowly steals your heart. I can’t do justice to the beauty
of this book but I can whole-hearted recommend it to anyone who is looking for
a intriguing unusual read (it’s an m/m romance but there is so much more to
it)!

Feel free to share your Recommended Reads from September in the link up tool or the comments. I'll be happy to check them out :)